Kimova AI ISO 27001 Auditing Series Technological Control A.8.22 Segregation of Networks

In today’s installment of the Kimova AI ISO 27001 auditing series, we focus on Technological Control A.8.22: Segregation of Networks, a crucial measure to minimize risks by isolating sensitive information and critical systems from less secure or high-risk environments. Effective network segregation ensures that potential security breaches are contained, reducing their impact and protecting an organization’s overall infrastructure.

Control A.8.22: Segregation of Networks

Network segregation involves designing and implementing logical or physical separation between different network segments based on their purpose, sensitivity, or user access requirements. This segregation prevents unauthorized access and limits the spread of malware or other cyber threats across the network.

Key Components of Network Segregation

Logical Segregation
- Explanation: Use VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) or subnets to separate traffic on shared physical infrastructure.
- Example: A healthcare organization uses VLANs to segregate patient data systems from guest Wi-Fi access.
Physical Segregation
- Explanation: Deploy separate physical infrastructure for highly sensitive networks.
- Example: A financial institution maintains separate servers and network hardware for its core banking operations.
Access Controls
- Explanation: Implement role-based access controls to restrict user and device access between network segments.
- Example: A manufacturing company enforces strict access policies to prevent IoT devices from accessing corporate resources.
Firewall Rules
- Explanation: Configure firewalls to control and monitor traffic flow between network segments.
- Example: An e-commerce business uses firewalls to isolate its payment processing systems from other parts of its network.
Zero Trust Architecture
- Explanation: Adopt a “never trust, always verify” approach to ensure all traffic between network segments is authenticated and authorized.
- Example: A tech company implements micro-segmentation, requiring devices to authenticate before accessing specific resources.

Real-World Applications

Cloud Environments: Organizations often use segregated networks in cloud infrastructures to separate public-facing applications from backend services.
Critical Infrastructure: Energy and utility providers implement network segregation to shield operational technology (OT) from IT systems.
Educational Institutions: Schools isolate administrative networks from student networks to protect sensitive staff information.

Benefits of Network Segregation

Enhanced Security: Reduces the attack surface by limiting lateral movement of threats.
Better Performance: Improves network efficiency by reducing congestion in isolated segments.
Regulatory Compliance: Assists in meeting security and privacy standards such as ISO 27001, GDPR, and PCI-DSS.

Conclusion

Network segregation is a foundational practice for organizations seeking robust information security. By effectively implementing A.8.22, organizations can build secure, resilient infrastructures that withstand evolving threats.

In our next article, we will explore A.8.23: Web Filtering, a control designed to regulate and monitor access to web resources, protecting users and systems from malicious content.

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